Is Harry really capable of great love?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 136496

Ramya:

> Considering the abuse he endured, it is commendable that Harry is 
not 
> bitter or hateful, but he knew that the Dursleys never loved him 
and 
> he never longed for their love either. 
> 
> We see Harry loving his friends, his parents, godfather, mentors
> close to him(Dumbledore, Lupin), etc, but otherwise, he is like 
any other wizard/muggle. We don't see him showing unconditional love 
or 
> compassion towards anyone like Dumbledore would. 
> 
> Harry is also capable of intense hatred- the minute he learns that 
> Sirius Black was responsible for betraying his parents to 
Voldemort, 
> and again in the Shrieking Shack, he wants to kill him. He feels 
> nothing but hatred and loathing for Draco and Snape. He is ready 
to 
> use unforgivables and dark spells. 
> 
> So, what makes Harry's capacity to love so great or any different
> from others? 
> 


Alla:

I am going to try to answer.  Just as  you are , I find it 
commendable that with his upbringing Harry has ability to love at 
all, you know, not had been growing up in most loving environment.

Of course Harry is not like Dumbledore - loving everybody and 
trusting everybody, giving people second chances ( even those who do 
not take those second chances :-))

Harry after all is still growing up, but I do believe that 
especially in this book he already shows the beginnings of 
compassion to his enemies simply out of compassion.


Consider this quote:

"She would not even stay alive for her son?"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Could you possibly be feeling sorry 
for Lord Voldemort?"
"No," said Harry quickly, "But she had a choice, din't she , not 
like my mother" - HBP, p.262.

To me it is fairly obvious, that despite his denial, Harry does feel 
bad for Tom's childhood.

Does it mean that he wants to be Tom's best friend? Surely not, but 
to tell you the truth, I doubt I, as an adult would be able to feel 
ANY compassion for a person who killed my family member, no matter 
what pitiful childhood such person had. 

I do find what Harry feels to be quite unusual in a good way.

It seems to me that in the future he could be like Dumbledore, if he 
survives of course.


Oh, and I agree with you that he does not have  very kind feelings 
towards Snape, which I again find perfectly understandable :-)

But, are you sure that he feels only loathing towards Malfoy?

"He despised Malfoy still for his infatuation  with the Dark Arts, 
but now the tiniest drop of pity mingled with his dislike" - HBP, 
p.640


So, to make long story short, I am extremely pleased as to how JKR 
shows  Harry's ability to love. It is nothing grand, or unusual at 
first sight, but I do think that Harry starts feeling empathy 
towards his enemies and THAT would indeed help him in defeating 
Voldie, NOT Snape's advice. :-)


Just me of course,

Alla.